 A mosquito pool (batch of mosquitoes) sampled on June 28 in
Highland Park has tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito pool is the
first confirmed indicator of West Nile presence in Lake County in 2018. Find
out more, including who to call if you want to report areas of
stagnant water, report locations of dead birds, and obtain more information on
the signs and symptoms of West Nile virus.
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 You’ll find bald eagles soaring high in the sky, slowly flapping
over water, perched in trees, or even on the ground. Look for them near rivers,
lakes, marshes and shorelines. Bald eagles mainly eat fish, but also hunt mammals,
waterfowl and carrion. Young eagles attain their white head feathers after
about five years, so don’t rule out the possibility that giant brown bird
overhead is a baldy. Look for a bright yellow, hooked bill and mottled white
feathers on the body.
Nests are built near the trunk, high in the tree but below the crown. The
diameter of a nest is typically 5 to 6 feet; height ranges from 2 to 4 feet.
The nest may be reused (and added to) for years. The Lake County Forest
Preserves has confirmed a few local nests in recent years,
including this one photographed in April in southwestern Lake County. Send us an
email and let us know if you see an active nest while out exploring
your preserves.
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Families are invited to come to a free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat
(KISS) event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14 at the Lake Forest Oasis on the Tri-State
Tollway. Safety seat inspections will take
place in the parking lot on the eastbound side of the oasis, and free identification cards for children ages 3 and older will be available inside the oasis pavilion. The event is hosted by the Illinois Tollway and the Illinois State Police.
 The
90th annual Lake County Fair returns July 25 through 29 at the Lake
County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Grayslake. Check out new attractions
including the Timberworks Lumberjack Show
and family activities presented by the Illinois National Guard.
Returning favorites include truck-and-tractor pulls, demolition derby, 4-H
exhibitions, and more. Visit www.lcfair.com for more information.
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Lake County continues
to look for ways to be more sustainable—both environmentally and economically.
The Lake County Board authorized at its July 10 Board meeting to upgrade and
install light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting at roundabout street lights
and underpass luminaires. Over the past several years, LCDOT retrofitted all
existing traffic signals throughout the county with long-lasting LED lamps, and
now they are looking at street lighting. LED lights reduce power consumption
and keep ongoing maintenance costs low. Learn more ways that Lake County
focuses on sustainability by visiting our Sustainable Lake County website.
 Lake County Public Works is committed to providing safe
water throughout the County. As strong supporters of the Safe Drinking Water
Act, Public Works releases annual water quality Consumer Confidence Reports
(CCRs) for the 12 water systems they own and operate. These reports describe
the sources, treatment, and chemical analysis of each water distribution
system. All Lake County systems passed testing requirements for the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency. Visit the water quality reports web page
to read your report.
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Lake County is
one of many counties nationwide that participates in the National Association
of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health and Dental Discount
program, which helps residents better manage the cost of prescription
medications and health and dental services. There are no income requirements or
age requirements, and it is open to residents with or without insurance.
Residents have saved over $2 million on prescriptions over the past 13 years
with this program! Learn more
 The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center is
committed to providing a safe environment for child victims of abuse.
The center wouldn’t be possible without help from community partners. Watch
this video as the State’s Attorney’s Office took time to recognize
these individuals.
Save the Date
The Lake County Opioid Initiative will be hosting its
first Annual “Save a Life” fundraising event on Sept. 14 at the Double Tree by Hilton in Mundelein.
Join us to support a significant cause and to continue our battle the against the opioid/heroin epidemic.
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Lake County recently evaluated the Land Development Fee
Schedule for development in unincorporated Lake County, and changes went
into effect July 2. Learn four things you need to
know about these changes.
 Forest Preserve News
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 Wine and Nine
Enjoy a 30-minute golf clinic and a round of 9 holes, followed by
hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting at ThunderHawk Golf Club in Beach Park at
4 p.m. July 20. Learn more
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 Rx
for Health: Walking in Nature
Join
a health professional and an educator on this 1.5-mile walk to explore the
preserve as we improve our health. The walk will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
July 21 at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan.
The program is free, and no registration is required. The entrance is on
Blanchard Road, west of Sheridan Road. Learn more
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 Green
Youth Farm Thrives, Thanks to Donors
Early
summer lettuces and kale, beans and squash are ripening at the Green
Youth Farm in Lake County, thanks to donors to the Preservation
Foundation. Among the farm’s supporters in 2018, we are pleased
to thank Lake Forest Bank & Trust and Libertyville Bank & Trust. The
company’s $10,000 grant helped provide a paid summer job for North Chicago and
Waukegan high school students, who sow, tend and harvest fresh, healthful food
as they gain valuable work experience. Learn
more
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Recently,
the Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) submitted its annual facility
inspection report to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of
Lake County. This report is a yearly requirement for Lake County’s National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which covers Lake
County’s municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) discharge activities,
provides monitoring and reporting requirements, and defines measurable goals
for water quality protection. For more information, visit the website and the annual
report.
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